South Africa’s layoff boosts Munster as Damian de Allende stays in Ireland

The competition will now proceed as a Tri-Nations tournament with Argentina, Australia and New Zealand playing each other twice over five weeks from October 31 to December 5

Damian de Allende of Munster makes a break during the Guinness PRO14 Round 15 match against Connacht. The South African will stay in Europe over the winter as the Springboks withdrew from the Rugby Championship.

South Africa’s decision to withdraw from next month’s Rugby Championship in Australia has given Munster an unexpected selection boost for the coming weeks with World Cup winner Damian de Allende set to stay with the province instead of heading Down Under.

Munster had been set to lose Springbok centre de Allende for eight weeks between now and December 12 for the four-nation championship, to be played as a one-off solely in Australia from November 7 yet organisers SANZAAR today confirmed the Springboks, with former Munster defence coach Jacques Nienaber having succeeded World Cup-winning Rassie Erasmus as head coach, had pulled out of the Rugby Championship citing its government's travel restrictions, player welfare and safety concerns.